City to send waterfront policy to state

The mooring area in Bradenton Beach. City commissioners on Aug. 27 approved a waterfront proposal as part of a series of amendments to the comprehensive plan. Islander Photo: Lisa Neff

The Bradenton Beach City Commission approved a series of waterfront-related policies to be folded into the future land-use element in the city’s comprehensive plan.

The commission approved the policies during a single-item meeting Aug. 27. The planning and zoning board recommended the policies Aug. 18.

The policies will be sent to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for review as part of the amendments in the city’s evaluation and appraisal report.

The policies affirm that “waterfront lands provide a link between land and water that is critical to sustaining a diverse and thriving coastal economy.”

Noting a decline in working waterfronts in the state, the proposal continues, “Loss of commercial and recreational waterfront to residential development and the relative diminishing access to boat launch facilities may have a long-term adverse impact on the quality of life. In addition, escalating prices for coastal property make it difficult for local governments to purchase new access points to meet this growing demand.”

The proposal also details a series of objectives and policies to protect commercial and recreational waterfronts, including:

• Continuing to participate in the Waterfronts Florida Partnership Program.